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Kelly: I’m the right man for job

Date published: Wednesday 6th May 2015 10:34

Latics named former York and Sunderland youth coach Kelly as the successor to Lee Johnson this week having secured their League One status for a 19th straight year under the caretaker rule of Dean Holden, who will stay on to become the new manager’s assistant.

Despite chairman Simon Corney’s track record for appointing rookies, Kelly’s hiring has been seen as an uninspiring choice amongst some Oldham fans who were dreaming of an Iain Dowie return or Paul Scholes’ first foray into management.

The man Corney has chosen appreciates he will have to win some naysayers over, yet he is confident in his ability to do so.

“I get it, I’m coming in and managing their football club,” Kelly said.

“I’m going to be judged, absolutely, and rightly so. Why wouldn’t I be?

“It’s up to me to produce the results on the football field that’s going to turn their opinion.

“For me, there’s no better man to do that. I face every challenge head on and hopefully in time they’ll see what I’m about and they’ll accept what I’m doing and support myself and the team.”

Kelly, 35, revealed he had not applied for another managerial post prior to throwing his hat into the ring at SportsDirect.com Park.

However, he swiftly won the Latics board of directors over during the interview process with a strong self-belief which he hopes will help him in his new position.

“If you don’t go in for things you’ll never know,” he added.

“It’s the first job that I went in for. I’ve got a belief in what I can do and how I can do it. I understand that I’m going to be judged on results, I’m absolutely fine with that.

“I’ve been working hard over the last number of years for this opportunity and luckily it’s at such a great football club like Oldham Athletic.”